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Zahra Lari
Zahra Lari
Native name	زهرة لاري
Born	March 3, 1995 (age 29); Abu Dhabi
Hometown	Abu Dhabi
Figure skating career
Country	United Arab Emirates
Coach	Bohdan Berezenko
Began skating	2007

Zahra Lari (born March 3, 1995), is an Emirati figure skater. She is the first figure skater from the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East to compete internationally. Lari is a five-time Emirati National Champion.

Along with her rigorous training, Zahra graduated from Abu Dhabi University majoring in Environmental Health and Safety. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Emirates Skating Club, which is the first established figure skating club in the country. She is a dedicated activist for the health and well-being of the UAE society and women in general. Zahra is registered and certified in the UAE National Records for her achievements in serving the Society and the State.

Personal life

Zahra Lari is from Abu Dhabi, UAE where she resides with her parents and two brothers. Her father is from the United Arab Emirates. Zahra was inspired to try figure skating at the age of 12, after watching the Disney film Ice Princess, and was able to begin skating lessons shortly after.^[1] She graduated from Abu Dhabi University, where she studied environmental health and safety, though she holds the title of CEO and Co-founder of Emirates Skating Club in Abu Dhabi.^[2] In 2017, she was included in a Nike, Inc. ad featuring Muslim women athletes.^[3]

Lari is also the first figure skater to compete internationally in a hijab.^[4] She hopes to serve as an inspiration and light to other young women.^[5]

Lari got married in 2020. She has one daughter.^[6]

Programs

Season	Short program	Free skating
2019–20^[7]		Zahra by Ihab Darwish
2018–19 ^[8]
2016–18 ^[8]	Pierrot and the Moon by Maxime Rodriguez	Weeping Meadow (soundtrack) by Eleni Karaindrou

Career

Early career

Zahra Lari began learning to skate at the age of 12 at Zayed Sports City. Although her mother was initially supportive, it took some time before her father would let her compete, preferring she continued skating as a hobby. However, after she saw how passionate she was about the sport, she relented.^[9]

2011–12 season

Her junior international debut was in the 2011-12 season at the European Cup in Canazei, Italy. She received a deduction due to her headscarf, as it was not an approved part of the costume. However, after taking up the issue with the ISU, they changed the rule, allowing for headscarves to be worn in competition.^[2]

2013–14 season

Lari competed at three international junior competitions. She placed 7th at the Dubai Golden Cup, 12th at the New Year's Cup, and 26th at the [Sportland Trophy.

2014–15 season

Lari began competing at the senior level and placed 4th at the FBMA Trophy – her best international placement to date. She also competed at the 2015 International Challenge Cup and placed 11th.

2015-16 season

Due to an injury, Zahra only competed at the FBMA Trophy that was held at her home rink.

2016-17 season

Zahra competed at the Asian Winter Games in Japan, Cup of Tyrol, EGNA Spring Trophy, FBMA Trophy in Abu Dhabi at her home rink, Skate Helena and Merano Cup.

2017–18 season

Zahra competed in the Nebelhorn Trophy (Olympic Qualifiers), Bavarian Open, Cup of Tyrol, FBMA trophy (held at her home rink), Golden Bear, Slovenia Open and UAE National Championship.

2018–19 season

Lari competed at the 2019 Winter Universiade in Krasnoyarsk, Russia and is the first Emirati to compete in the Winter Universiade.^[10]

Post-Competitive

Due to rink closures during the COVID-19 pandemic Lari took a step back from what she realized was a "unsustainable, frenzied cycle of training and traveling."^[11] She is the CEO of the Emirates Skating Club and president of the Figure Skating Committee under the UAE Winter Sports Federation.

In February 2024, Lari published an autobiographical children's book, Not Yet, with co-author Hadley Davis, the screenwriter of Ice Princess, and illustrated by Sara Alfageeh.^[12]

Competitive highlights

CS: Challenger Series

International
Event	13–14	14–15	15–16	16–17	17–18	18-19	19-20
CS Alpen Trophy						28th
CS Lombardia						WD
CS Nebelhorn					33rd
CS Tallinn Trophy						28th
Asian Games				18th
Bavarian Open					15th
Cup of Tyrol				25th	19th
EduSport Trophy						8th
Egna Spring Trophy				12th
FBMA Trophy		4th	5th	15th	10th
Golden Bear					13th
Halloween Cup						16th
Int. Challenge Cup		11th
Skate Helena				14th
Merano Cup				16th
Slovenia Open					23rd
Winter Universiade						29th
International: Junior
Dubai Golden Cup	7th
New Year's Cup	12th
Sportland Trophy	26th
National
Emirati Champ.			1st		1st
J = Junior level

Detailed results

Senior career

2017–18 season
Date	Event	Level	SP	FS	Total
January 5–7, 2017	FBMA Trophy 2017	Senior	15 24.17	15 50.59	15 74.76
2016–17 season
Date	Event	Level	SP	FS	Total
April 6–9, 2017	Egna Spring Trophy	Senior	12 25.81	12 51.86	12 77.67
February 28 - March 5, 2017	Cup of Tyrol 2017	Senior	24 25.90	26 54.19	25 80.09
February 19–26, 2017	2017 Asian Winter Games	Senior	19 23.31	17 53.37	18 76.68
January 17–21, 2017	10th Europa Cup Skate Helena	Senior	15 21.87	13 50.69	14 72.56
January 5–7, 2017	FBMA Trophy 2017	Senior	17 24.17	16 50.59	16 74.76
November 10–13, 2016	19th ISU Merano Cup 2016	Senior	17 19.95	16 45.67	16 65.62
2015–16 season
Date	Event	Level	SP	FS	Total
January 22–23, 2016	FBMA Trophy 2016	Senior	5 20.50	5 41.37	5 61.87
2014–15 season
Date	Event	Level	SP	FS	Total
April 3–5, 2015	FBMA Trophy 2015	Senior	4 25.81	4 46.66	4 72.47
February 19–22, 2015	International Challenge Cup 2015	Senior	12 19.65	11 39.51	11 59.16

Junior career

2013–14 season
Date	Event	Level	SP	FS	Total
May 5-June 5, 2014	Dubai Golden Cup 2014^[13]	Junior	4 25.70	7 39.70	7 65.40
2011–12 season
April 9–13, 2012	2012 European Cup^[14]	Junior			15